Pierce Transit to launch shuttle service for communities cut off by White River Bridge closure
Sep 5, 2025, 10:34 AM | Updated: 11:14 am
The White River Bridge is closed after a semi-truck struck the structure, causing damage in multiple spots. (Photo courtesy of WSDOT)
(Photo courtesy of WSDOT)
Pierce Transit is working toward providing limited shuttle service to community members affected by the White River Bridge closure, according to KIRO 7.
On Aug. 18, a semi-truck crossing the bridge collided with the steel beams over the roadway, damaging all seven bridge panels. As a result, the bridge has been closed to all traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
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Pierce Transit plans to provide shuttle service at White River Bridge
Pierce Transit received a request from the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management to provide shuttles in Buckley that would connect passengers to the south end of the Foothills Trail during morning and afternoon commutes.
Pierce Transit response teams coordinated with the City of Buckley to schedule a shuttle service within Buckley’s city limits.
The shuttle request included service from Monday through Friday during peak times. The plans include a morning shuttle from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and an evening shuttle from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Pierce Transit noted it is currently working with other agencies to determine all pickup locations and logistics.
There is currently no date for when the shuttle service will go into effect; however, Pierce Transit reassured the community that the teams are moving quickly to provide a fix.
As the state works on structural repairs, King County Metro’s DART Route 915 implemented extended service to the Foothills Trail Bridge on weekdays.
Pedestrians and cyclists can use the Foothills Trail Bridge to travel between Buckley and Enumclaw. This route takes roughly 20 minutes for cyclists.
The White River Bridge closure has forced drivers to take a 38-mile round-trip detour through Auburn, which takes approximately one hour.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced a temporary fix, which involves installing five temporary braces along the damaged sections of the bridge. WSDOT expects these efforts to allow for one lane to open on the White River Bridge by mid-September.
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